Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 05-22-2015, 11:32 AM   #1
New Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 7
Roof Deck ideas??

Looking for mounting ideas, I want to add a roof deck to the back of my 2000 Thomas International.... What have you done & thought of?
#mfbusproject #madfrogpb

MadFrogPB is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-22-2015, 12:34 PM   #2
Bus Nut
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Florida
Posts: 584
Year: 1988
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: I.H.
Engine: DT360
I haven't built my deck yet and it will likely be the last thing I do. My plan is to build one that is L shaped. This would be as wide as the bus in the rear area. From the rear wheels or so forward, it would be just cover about half (meaning just one side) so there is roof exposed for eventual solar or whatever I may decide on such a kayak rack. 5' wide is probably what I will go for in the narrow portion, which leaves 3' for the solar or kayak.
The rear area completely across gives a wide area for getting up the ladder and hauling/tilting stuff up to the roof rack.
HolyBus is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-22-2015, 02:56 PM   #3
Site Team
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Nanaimo, British Columbia
Posts: 429
The folks doing the Anne Marie have taken a nice approach, with a big deck and plenty of room for solar panels.

With small children, I don't think we'll be doing a deck, but if we were, I'd do one along these lines.
Polarweasel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-22-2015, 03:38 PM   #4
Skoolie
 
bubb, the real one's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: central texas
Posts: 170
Year: 1990
Coachwork: Thomas/International
Chassis: 3700
Engine: 7.3
Rated Cap: 72
I think the 2 general ways to mount a roof rack is to either bolt some vertical bars on the outside of the bus and put some 8ft long cross beams across the roof.
the other way is to lay down a metal/wood piece on either side of the roof, this piece run forward/backward along the edge of the roof and it bolted to the roof and then you put come cross pieces across the bus,
I choose to mount some vertical pieces of 2in square tube 11ga, they were 42in long each, bolted between each window, then I used the same tube at 8ft long to cross over the roof, at the top center of the bus the beams are 3in above the roof, I then put down 14ga plate steel for the floor, 3/8in grade 8 bolts glued for all the square tube connections.
__________________
my bus thread, https://www.skoolie.net/forums/showthread.php?t=8860&highlight=bubb
bubb, the real one is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-22-2015, 06:17 PM   #5
Bus Geek
 
bansil's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: MNT CITY TN
Posts: 5,158
we shall see

planning on outer vertical pcs and a couple pcs mounted to roof with that awesome adhesive..3M VHB tape!

once stuck it wont come loose
__________________
Our build La Tortuga
Accept the challenges so that you can feel the exhilaration of victory.
George S. Patton
bansil is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-22-2015, 07:06 PM   #6
Bus Nut
 
charles_m's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Denver
Posts: 489
Year: 1982
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: International S1800
Engine: DT466 Trans: MT643
Rated Cap: 65
I used a solar panel racking system using made by Unirac extruded aluminum rails down the length of each side. I have tied my deck boards and solar panels into these rails using standard SS solar mounting hardware. Super strong, super light, flexible, holds my deck and my panels, and its all aluminum and SS so it will never rust. I wish I had a pic. I will as soon as this damn rain lets up!

SOLARMOUNT: Residential | Unirac

That's the system I used. The decking and panels also rest in the center, on the top of the apex of the roof. I did a support from the frame of the roof to the rail every 27" (which is the spacing on the bus frame)
__________________
Patina enthusiast and professional busman
www.bustoshow.org
Blog: www.lookatthatbus.com
Instragram: @lookatthatbus
charles_m is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-22-2015, 07:48 PM   #7
Bus Crazy
 
Scooternj's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: EHT New Jersey
Posts: 1,134
Year: 2003
Coachwork: AmTran
Chassis: International 3000RE
Engine: T444E/AT545
Rated Cap: 75
Quote:
Originally Posted by bansil View Post
we shall see

planning on outer vertical pcs and a couple pcs mounted to roof with that awesome adhesive..3M VHB tape!

once stuck it wont come loose
One thing I have noticed with VHB is it doesn't like wrinkly panels. Either that or it was an old roll I was using. I'll have to investigate further with a fresh one.
__________________
Hey! That's not an RV, that's a school bus.
Well thank you for noticing, Captain Obvious

Captain Obvious on deviantArt
Scooternj is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-22-2015, 08:21 PM   #8
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 46
Does anyone have a opinion on a roof deck making the bus top heavy? I'd like to put a full length, full width deck on top of mine, but am worried about it making the bus more rollover prone.
bustagator is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-22-2015, 08:26 PM   #9
Bus Nut
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Florida
Posts: 584
Year: 1988
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: I.H.
Engine: DT360
Full length and full width always makes me think of people who are trying to haul a matress/box spring on the roof of a minivan. I picture the wind under it while going down the highway. Its one way to test adhesives. I've seen more than one surfboard come off a car roof and do flips down the road. I'm just saying. Think safety of the guy behind you even if your top speed might be 50-55.
HolyBus is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-22-2015, 08:30 PM   #10
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 46
Quote:
Originally Posted by HolyBus View Post
Full length and full width always makes me think of people who are trying to haul a matress/box spring on the roof of a minivan. I picture the wind under it while going down the highway. Its one way to test adhesives. I've seen more than one surfboard come off a car roof and do flips down the road. I'm just saying. Think safety of the guy behind you even if your top speed might be 50-55.
Point taken, although I don't think that it would be that hard to securely fasten a deck to the bus. I am, however, concerned about the effect the wind might have on handling of the bus at highway speeds...
bustagator is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-23-2015, 01:32 AM   #11
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Currently in Appalachia.
Posts: 148
Re:weight issues
Be sure to consider your GVW. If you are adding holding tanks to the under-carriage, you will be less likely to change your center of gravity. Building materials can make a big weight difference too.

Also consider your power package. Know what your engine and tranny can pull without problems.
__________________
~Pamela
SassyLass is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-24-2015, 07:18 PM   #12
Moderator
 
crazycal's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: NUNYA
Posts: 4,236
Year: 1995
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: 3800
Engine: DT408, AT545
Rated Cap: 23 500 gvw



Aug 1 - SeanF



.
__________________
I'm hungry!

You Gotta Let Me Fly
crazycal is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
roof rack

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:27 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.